Esbjerg launches full medical degree to help tackle doctor shortage

The first cohort of bachelor students in medicine has started at the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg, meaning students can now complete their entire medical education in the city, DR reports.

Among the new students is 22 year old Mathilde Hansen Uhd, who can remain in Esbjerg while training to become a doctor.

She had expected to move to Aarhus, but changed her plans when she learned that medical studies were coming to Esbjerg.

If she had not been accepted in Esbjerg, she says she would have moved to Odense or Aarhus.

Hoping to retain future doctors

Esbjerg has offered a master’s degree in medicine since 2022. With the new bachelor programme, students can now complete the full medical degree in the southwestern Danish city.

The hope is that the programme will help address the shortage of doctors in southern and southern Jutland.

Christian Backer Mogensen, head of the new bachelor programme and a doctor at Aabenraa Hospital, said the place where doctors study can influence where they work in the future.

Mathilde Hansen Uhd said studying in Esbjerg could make a decisive difference because students build networks and personal ties during the many years of medical training.

A total of 63 future doctors have started the medical bachelor programme in Esbjerg.